Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Monday, November 28.
Pivac pulled from France trip
Wayne Pivac pulled out of a World Cup planning trip to France on Sunday as his future in charge of Wales appeared to take a turn for the worse.
Hours before the Welsh Rugby Union issued a public statement promising to act on the findings of a review into Wales' unacceptable results this year, Pivac's plans were changed. As late as Saturday night, he was adamant he would be heading to France to scout training facilities and accommodation with a group of WRU employees. Even on Sunday morning, senior WRU sources indicated Pivac would still be going, but that all changed by Sunday evening.
It has been suggested the decision was Pivac's, with the focus of all involved now on efficiently carrying out the review, which could involve conversations with several coaches and potentially senior players.
Read more: Wayne Pivac edges closer to exit as WRU issue statement and vow to act on review
Whatever, it indicates Pivac's chances of remaining are diminishing, with the WRU likely to sound out Warren Gatland about making a dramatic return as head coach on a short-term basis.
Publicly, the union maintain they will carry out a full and proper review before making any decisions, but the idea they would go through a process that could take up to 10 days without knowing what options they have if they decide to pull the trigger on Pivac seems doubtful.
'WRU should act quickly'
WRU bosses should act quickly if they are to make a change to the Wales coaching staff so any new head coach is in charge for the 2023 Six Nations, Sean Holley believes.
The former Ospreys coach and well-respected pundit told Scrum V on Sunday: "I think they should act on it pretty quick. I don’t think we can go to a Six Nations, not perform in a Six Nations and then try and appoint somebody [for the World Cup]. I think they need to make the decision today, tomorrow, Tuesday at the latest."
As for Pivac's success in the role, Holley believes there are deeper issues in Welsh rugby than who head coaches the men's national team although this year's results speak for themselves.
"It’s awful isn’t it that we’re having to talk about the plight of one man," he said. "What we’ve been seeing has been coming in my opinion. It’s a product of the current system, but there are far-reaching issues, deeper issues in Welsh rugby than Wayne Pivac.
"However, having said that, 13 wins out of 34 says it all. Three wins out of the last 12, the manner of those last performances, a lot of selection issues with chopping and changing. Have we seen a different style of play? Maybe not.
"When you’re the head coach of any sporting team, you’re the person driving it. It’s not a very nice place where he is at the moment. I’m sure he’s probably waiting to hear something."
Young hails Cardiff mentality in impressive Sharks win
Cardiff Rugby boss Dai Young has hailed the mental resilience of his side after they produced a stunning performance to beat the Sharks in South Africa on Sunday.
A brace from Thomas Young helped inspire Cardiff to a memorable 35-0 win, making them the first Welsh region to win on South African soil since the expansion of the United Rugby Championship.
"Tactically we played really well," boss Young said. "We played the conditions really well and got our noses in front so we made the Sharks have to chase the game and the weather wasn’t conducive to chasing the game.
"But we came out here last season and I thought we put a pretty decent performance in against the Lions and it just got away from us. But to be fair we played against the Stormers and they were on a completely different level on us.
"We had a good thumping that night and we’ve talked about when we come out here obviously trying to put that right really because we want to be competitive against every team we play.
"We’ve got a huge respect for South African rugby and we know that we’re going to have be eight out of ten mentally. If we’re not eight out of 10 mentally we don’t win out here, but I thought we were excellent."
Woodward urges RFU to 'scare the living daylights out of Eddie Jones'
Sir Clive Woodward has urged the RFU to turn up the heat on Eddie Jones, following England's disappointing defeat to South Africa.
The RFU has already confirmed it will conduct a review into what's been largely deemed a disappointing Autumn campaign, but the identities of those on the panel conducting the review are set to remain anonymous, much to the dismay of the World Cup winner.
"These reviews must be transparent with the people involved named," he wrote in his latest MailOnline column. "The fact those on the panel have only agreed to be there on the condition of anonymity is pathetic. It sums up the closeted, secretive nature of the RFU's governance which is stuck in the stone age.
"If you are not willing to put your name and reputation on the line in the same way Jones, Owen Farrell and the team do, then you do not deserve to be judging them."
Woodward claims there needs to be some real and proper scrutiny of Jones and his coaching team, suggesting the Australian has so far not taken criticism seriously enough.
He believes the upcoming Six Nations clash with Scotland should, in an ideal world, be considered Jones's last chance to impress.
"The outcome of the review has to scare the living daylights out of Jones and the team," he continued. "After being well beaten by a second-string South Africa side, Jones said: 'I don't really care what other people think.' What an awful thing for the England head coach to say. It says so much about Jones and his opinion of English rugby.
"As England coach you need to care very much what people think. The RFU have to start getting tough on Jones, but Sweeney will not stand up to him. He doesn't have the rugby knowledge to question his decisions.
"Jones needs to feel some serious heat from his employers. I would say to him: 'Forget the next World Cup, if you lose your next game against Scotland in the Six Nations you're out of your job.' If Jones has to get paid off and we need to raise the money for that to happen, then so be it."
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